RAWALPINDI, Dec 26: The District Nazim, Raja Tariq Kiani, has cancelled the auction of five plots for which bids had been called by the Rawalpindi Development Authority’s acting director- general through a nationwide advertisement campaign, causing a loss of Rs50,000 to the civic body, the RDA sources told Dawn.

The plots located at Committee Chowk became vacant after the shifting of the coaches and buses’ stands.

The RDA’s acting director-general Yaser Gauhar had ordered the auction of these plots which was to be held on December 25.

He also ran a advertisement campaign without consulting the District Nazim, who is also chairman of the RDA board of directors.

The advertisement campaign through the press caused a loss of Rs50,000 to the resources-deficit civic body, sources told Dawn.

This shows the reluctance of the old bureaucratic mafia to consult the elected representatives in important decisions.

Mr Gauhar tried to even bypass the Authority’s chairman only because he was an elected public representative. Despite, repeated contacts, the acting DG declined to comment.

Mr Kiani, when contacted, said the auctions had been suspended for the time-being.

“When I came to know that plots are being auctioned, I suspended the orders of the DG,” he said.

The case will be re-examined after taking into account different aspects of these plots.

“We will see to it that the area for the weekly Sunday Bazaar is not confined if the plots are auctioned out,” he added.

Mr Kiani also hinted at some better utilization of these plots. The decision will be taken on the basis of public interests, he added.